Saudi 'torture victim' fights on

James Lee will fight to clear his name

A man who was jailed in Saudi Arabia for his alleged involvement in a car bombing campaign, has vowed to continue his fight to clear his name.

James Lee, from Penarth, claims that he and five others were tortured and that the bomb attack was the work of terrorists.

A year after he was freed under a Saudi Royal Pardon, he is seeking compensation.

In November 2000 a bomb attack in Riyadh killed a Briton and injured several others.

The Saudi authorities said that Mr Lee was one of six men responsible and he confessed to the bombings on national television.

He was released after two years in jail and claimed that they were tortured into making their confessions.

" I knew my family, friends and loved ones would be watching - I knew it was lies - my family and friends knew it was lies," Mr Lee told BBC Wales.

"But the feeling of saying it on TV was horrendous."

The Saudi government denied torture allegations and blamed the bombings on a "turf war" connected to ex-pat alcohol dealers.

Gillian Barton was in Riyadh with James Lee when he was arrested

The six men have not been proclaimed innocent even though they were granted a Saudi royal pardon.

A year after his return home, James and his partner Gillian Barton are trying to settle back in life in south Wales.

He is still hoping to get compensation but that depends on a similar case being heard at Court of Appeal.

His solicitor, Richard Scorer said: "This is not a straightforward case at all because what the Saudis are seeking to do is shelter behind a state immunity."

"This causes complicated legal issues."

Mr Lee said he is preparing for a long legal battle but is determined to keep fighting to clear his name.